We’ve been told this before: “It’s not about you.”
And to be honest, there’s some truth in that.

Ministry is, at its core, about the transformative work of Jesus, the big story of redemption, grace, and new life. We’re not the hero of that story, and we shouldn’t try to be. The Bible has plenty to say about pride, and it’s easy to think that if we talk about ourselves, or tell our own stories, we’re somehow hijacking the spotlight.

But here’s the thing…

If you’re leading a ministry, whether it’s a church, a school, a nonprofit, or a business with a deeper purpose, then yes, some part of this story is about you.

Not in a way that glorifies you or pulls attention away from Jesus. But in a way that integrates your life, your leadership, and your voice into what God is doing.

Because God chooses to work through people.
And your story, your voice, matters.

We’ve seen it over and over again. A leader who thinks their story is too small or too ordinary to share. A ministry that’s sitting on a goldmine of transformation stories and doesn’t even realize it. Organizations that default to bullet points and data when asked to share what makes them come alive.

You know what we’ve found?
Most leaders don’t know they’re carrying powerful stories.
Or if they do, they don’t realize just how much those stories matter.

We worked with a ministry a few years back that had no clue they were holding stories of incredible impact: generational change, ripple-effect transformation, people being reached and then becoming the reachers. The kind of stories that breathe life into a mission. The kind of stories donors, supporters, and your own team need to hear.

One time, after hearing one of these stories, I said, “Do you realize how amazing this is?”
And the leader just kind of stared at me, like it had never occurred to them that what God was doing through them was anything special.

But it was.

When you’re in ministry long enough, the miraculous can start to feel… normal. The awe and wonder wear off. Gospel transformation starts to feel like just another Monday.

We forget that when one person meets Jesus, heaven throws a party.
We forget that hope breaking through in someone’s darkest moment is never “just another story.”

Let me tell you one I heard recently.

A friend of mine, himself a recovering alcoholic who now leads an incredible ministry, sent me a picture. It showed him standing in the water after baptizing someone. On the surface, it looked like a sweet moment. But the backstory? That’s where the power is.

The man he baptized had been his neighbor for 25 years. Not a believer. Not even spiritually curious. But my friend just kept showing up. Kept being a neighbor. Kept being kind.

Then, not long ago, that neighbor lost his wife. It was devastating. But it cracked open the door to something new. He started going to church. Started asking questions. Eventually made a decision to follow Jesus. And he asked my friend to baptize him.

Two lives changed. Two journeys intertwined. One simple photo, holding a story of faith, friendship, grief, and redemption.

These are the stories we need to tell.

There’s an old hymn that says, “This is my story, this is my song.”
And it’s true, we all have a story that’s still being written. It started long before us, and it will continue long after. But right now, we’ve been given a role to play.

So let me encourage you as a leader:

1. Stop normalizing everyday miracles.

Life change, healing, restoration: these are not small things. Let yourself be amazed again. Let your team feel the weight and beauty of what God is doing.

2. Talk about it.

Don’t just drop the stats. Share the story. Share how God is working in real lives, in your community, through your ministry. Say it out loud. Write it down. Celebrate it often.

3. Choose to build people up.

It’s easy to criticize. It’s easy to get cynical. But leaders who lead with hope, who see the best in others, who love deeply and speak life, that’s what the world needs right now.

4. Make hope part of your message.

Let your communication, your emails, your social posts, your stage moments, be filled with hope. It’s hard to be negative when you’re full of hope. And hope changes everything.

This weekend is Easter.

And while it’s easy to let that feel routine, just another weekend, another sermon, don’t miss what’s happening. This is a moment where thousands will make life-changing decisions. Even if it’s not happening in your building, it’s happening around the world.

Let that stir your heart again.

Tell the stories.
Celebrate the miracles.
Point people to the power of the gospel.
And don’t be afraid to let your voice be part of the story.

Because it’s not about you. But some of it is.

You get to be the storyteller.
So tell it well.

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